Machine for combining dissimilar articles



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51 4 Q I I a April 1942. w. ROBERTS MACHINE FOR COMBINING DISSIMILAR ARTICLES Filed March 5, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIA line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Patented Apr. 28, 1942 MACHINE FOR COMBINING DKSSIMILAR ARTICLES William Roberts, Oswego, N. Y., assignor to The Diamond Match Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Application March 5, 1941, Serial No. 381,786

. 6 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for combining dissimilar articles, having reference more.

especially, to a machine for associating with an advertising match packet another packet containing a sample or specimen of the advertised product. l

The principal object in View is the provision of a machine whereby segregated dissimilar-packets can be fed with facility to the machine and thereby accurately and rapidly paired and united to form dual articles, each composed, say, of a conventional match book and a sample packet of another product, such, for example, as cough lozenges.

Generally described, the machine herein illustrated as an embodiment of my invention, comprises an endless conveyer forsupporting sample packets in succession, which conveyer is mounted totravel in a path including a series of succeeding. stations at one of which is provided means for applying adhesive to the under surface of each succeeding sample packet borne by the conveyer,

and at another of which stations is provided means for positioning a match book fiatwise in close relation to each succeeding sample packet. The path of the conveyer is such that each packet before it reaches its complementary match book is inverted, thus presenting the adhesive coated surface of the packetto the cover of the. book, following which, as the conveyer continues its progress, the associated packet and match book are held in intimate contact until they are firmly united and dischargedfrom the conveyer. In case the sample packets are wrapped with a material, such as Cellophane, which requires the:

partial drying of the adhesive thereon before the books are applied to such packets, the machine is. equipped with a suitable drying chamber located in proximity to the path of the packets as they progress toward the book-supply station.

The invention also comprises features of construction and combinations of parts which, in the form shown, will be hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention, for combining dissimilar articles, such as book matches and samplepackets.

Fig. 2 is a plan of the machine. 1

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the left hand portion of the machine as shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section, as on the ture 21.

Fig. 5 is a horiaontal section in a plane through the book-match supply hopper, as on the line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section, as on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Figs. "7 and 8 are perspective views of portions of the conveyer chains showing a holder block on each portion.

Fig. 9 is a transverse vertical section in a plane through the drive sprockets at one end of the conveyer, showing the pocketed transfer wheel for the sample packets.

Fig.10 is a front elevation of the said pocketed transfer wheel, and adjuncts.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal vertical section in a plane adjacent the drive sprockets, as on theline ll-II of Fig. 9, showing sample and dual packages as borne by the lower and upper runs respectively of the conveyer chains.

As shown in the drawings, the supporting frame includes skeleton metal work 26 and a bracket structure 21 of inverted T-form in crosssection, which bracket is conveniently mounted on a pedestal 28.

The main shaft 29, which extends transversely of the machine at the right of the pedestal, as viewed in Fig. 1, is journaled in suitably-disposed bearings 30 and 3|, the former of which bearings is formed in the bracket structure 21 while the latter is formed in a bracket 32 rising from the base of the structure. The shaft 29 has fast thereon a pulley 33 whichis driven from a suitable source of power. In the present instance the pulley 33 is connected by means of a belt 34 with a pulley 35 on the shaft of an electric motor 36 conveniently mounted on the base of the struc- Fast on the shaft 29 are a pair of sprocket wheels 31 which are operatively connected by means of two spaced parallel conveyer chains 33 with a pair of similar wheels 39 loose on a fixed transverse shaft 40 at the left end of the supporting frame. The ends of the shaft 40 are supported by extension pieces 4| and 42, respectively, the piece 4i being boltedto the outer end of a longitudinally extendingbar 43 which is fastened at its inner end to the upstanding member of the bracket structure 21, and the piece 42 being bolted to an adjacent lateral spacer 44 projecting from the bar 43. The conveyer chains are continuously driven as a unit in the direction of the arrows, as seen in Fig. 11. Each chain in the form shown comprises an endless series of pivotally-connected links having on their outer surfaces stepped blocks 45 which are. equally spaced throughout the length of the chain. Each block consists of a rectangular base 45 and a reduced central portion 41 projecting therefrom. The blocks of the two chains are arranged in alignment with each other in order to provide a continuous succession of holders, each of which, when upside down, at one location, embraces an underlying packet at its respective ends and impels the packet to another location where the holder, together with the packet, is inverted. Thus the walls of the holder are upstanding and the packet is seated in the basal part of the holder. Owing to their step formation the blocks present angular seats 48 adapted, when the block is at the second location, to receive a fiatwise,

disposed match book M and maintain it uniformlyupon the underlying packet. Preferably, the inner surfaces of the projecting portions ii of the respective blocks of the two chains are inwardly beveled to the plane of the adjacent seats, as at 49, in order to facilitate the seating of the match books in the respective holders; and also the opposite vertical surfaces Of'the bases 4t of the blocks of the rearward conveyer chain are beveled or flared, as at 59, in order to eifectthe central disposition of the sample packets transversely of the conveyer chains in succession when the packets are entered in the holders, as will presently appear.

The longitudinal'runs of the conveyer travel in lower and upper parallel trackways i and 52, respectively, which extend along the space between the sprocket wheels3'l and 39. The lower trackway comprises a pair of spaced rails 53 supported upon a floor 5 3 having longitudinal side walls 55, and the upper trackway comprises a 3 floor 56 having side walls 5'! and also'having a raised portion 58 between the runs of the chains, both floors being attached by suitably-disposed brackets 59 to the stationary bar 43 and the upstanding member of the bracket structure 21. The 'ends of the rails 53 adjacent the left hand sprocket wheels 39 are connected bysubstantially semi-circular guide sections cc arranged in spaced concentric relation to the peripheries of the respective wheels, which sections are provided with side flanges 6| constituted by curved continuations of'the outer side walls of the lower trackway. Thus the packets are uniformly maintained'on'the conveyer as they are carried about the wheels 39 from the lower to the upper level.

(See Figs. 3 and 6.)

. overhanging the upper horizontal path of the conveyer are two downwardly diverging troughs 62 and 63, of suitable cross-section for the free reception, respectively, of individual books and a packet containing a selected product, such, for example, as lozenges. The articles .are manually introducedat the adjacent upper ends of the respective troughs, and are thereby guided downwardly in opposite directions. (See Fig. 1.)

The trough 63 slopes toward and in close relation to the path of a peripherally pocketed transfer wheel 64 which, being fast on themainshaft 29 and laterally of the conveyer wheels 31, is rotated in timed relation with the conveyer. The pockets 65 of the transfer wheel are in equally spaced relation correspondingly with the holders of the conveyer and are shaped to receive during their rotation succeeding sample packetsP as they are discharged from the lower end of the H trough 63. The other trough 62 slopes to a position somewhat above the conveyer, terminating in a vertical hopper portion 65 which directly overhangs the upper run of the conveyer adjacent the sprocket wheels 39. Book matches (M),

match I introduced in flat position in successive order in the upper end of the trough 52, are directed downward to the mouth of the hopper, thus descending and accumulating within the hopper with the lowermost book of the pile resting flatwise upon an underlying supporting strip 61. This strip, being secured to the outer end wall of the hopper, extends slightly beyond the opposite wall of the hopper and medially of the space between the two chains of the conveyer, being sufficiently below the hopper to permit the egress of'the book in flat condition, as hereinafter described. The outer edges of the walls of the hopper and the entrant portion of the inclined trough 62 are provided with inwardly extending flanges 68 effective to prevent accidental displacement of the books as they enter and occupy the hopper. During the concurrent travel of the transfer wheel 64 and the conveyer each succeeding wheel pocket when it reaches its lowermost position is in horizontal alignment with a conveyer holder, displacement of the contents of the charged wheel pockets in their continuous travel therein being prevented by a guard band 69. As shown, the band is arranged adjacent the descending periphery of the wheel and terminates at its lower end in a lateral extension H! which underliesthe proximate portion of the conveyer and is attached to the floor 54 of the lower trackway; thus forming, ineifect, a continuation of the floor. In the present instance the band extension is supported by a bracket H fastened to the upstanding member of the bracket structure 27, and the top of the band is provided adjacent the lower end of the trough 63 with an angle piece 72 which insures the alignment of the packets P as they approach the transfer wheel. (See Fig. 10.) The upper and lower portions of the band are held together by a tie-strip 73 to obviate liability of distortion of the band.

To the upper portion of the band E59 is fixed a cam member comprising a strip M which curves inwardly and downwardly adjacent the descending pocketed face of the transfer wheel 54, thus presenting an inclined surface 75 in the path of each of the articles contained in the'wheel as the article progresses from the upper to the lower level of the conveyer. Hence the cam surface gradually moves the contiguous packet P endwise until it has been fully entered in the aligning holder of the conveyer and seated upon the later ally projecting floor portion of the guard band. To effect the uniform guidance of the packet across the conveyer chains the blocks 41 of the rearward chain are, as previously indicated, laterally beveled or inclined, as at 59, in the path of the entering end of the packet.

As each succeeding conveyer holder with its sample packet progresses from the transfer wheel, a stripe or stripes 16 (Fig. 4) of a suitable adhesive are applied to the lower surface of the packet. In the present instance this is accomplished by the spaced circumferential surfaces 71 of an applicator roll 78 which is mounted to rotate in a vessel 19 containing the adhesive. As shown the vessel is supported directly under the floor extension 10 of the guard band 69 by the bracket structure 27, which extension has therein suitable openings 88 through which the roll surfaces 11 freely project. (See Fig. 9). One end of the shaft 81 of the roll is provided with a gear 82 which is connected through meshing idler gears 83 with a gear 84 on the main shaft 29, the ratio of the gearing being such that the shaft 8i and its roll are actuated in timed relation to the conveyer and the transfer wheel. (See Figs. 9, 10 and 11.) l

The sample packets embraced by the respective holder blocks of the conveyenare successively advanced along the rails of the trackway 54 until they reach the remote sprocket wheel 39, whereupon they are guided in an arcuate path by the guide members 60 to or slightly above the raised floor portion of the upper trackway 52, thereby inverting each succeeding holder and its contained sample packet immediately before the packet is brought to and under the supply hopper 66 containing the match books. At this stage the inverted packet is seated on the conveyer chains and within the basal portions of the holders, with the then striped upper surface of the packet slightly above the seats 48 of the upper or wider portions of the holders. The beveled surfaces 49 of the upstanding portions 41 of each succeeding pair of leading holders when they pass beyond the end of the supporting strip at the inner or right hand wall of the hopper, allow the adjacent portion of the lowermost book to sink gradually into the basal portion of the holder, and the upstandin portions 45 of the companion trailing blocks, bearing against the opposing side of the book, push the book beyond the hopper and along the upper trackway. Consequently, as each succeeding lowermost book is removed from the hopper it is properly superposed on and advanced with a sample packet borne by the conveyer.

succession of members each comprising a body In the present instance the floor 54 of the lower trackway is provided in its longitudinal median portion with an opening or openings 85.

which communicate with an underlying chamber constituted by a trunk 86 conveniently supported by the sides of that trackway. Heated air is supplied to the chamber by means of a blower 81 in operative communication with a suitably disposed heating unit 88. Thus it will be seen that as the sample packets progress along the lower trackway the adhesive on the under surfaces of the packets is subjected to the action of the ascending air from the chamber and is thereby properly conditioned to meet the requirements of an eflicient adhesive for wrappers composed of "Cellophane or similar material, as previously mentioned.

The dual packages, leaving the region of the hopper, progress beneath a succession of overhanging transverse rolls 89 which press the match book covers in intimate contact with the opposing coated surfaces of the complementary packets before they reach the delivery end of the upper trackway. In the present instance the rolls are loosely mounted on studs 90 projecting laterally from a stationary bar 9| that extends longitudinally of and above the upper path of the conveyer, which studs are conveniently supported by goose-neck brackets 92 attached to the longitudinally extending bar 43 of the upper trackway.

As each succeeding dual package passes across the top of the sprocket wheel 31 the package advances upon an elongated bed 93 in the same horizontal plane, or substantially so,as the bottoms of the combined packets, the adjacent end portion 94 of the bed thus serving as a stripper to remove the package from the conveyer.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular exemplifying form thereof herein disclosed, as the mechanisms may be modified within the principle of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

having oppositely-extending step-like portions at its respective sides, and the succession of bodies being equally spaced throughout the length of the conveyer to provide in each space between adjacent bodies a holder of different transverse dimensions for the reception of dissimilar packets in superposed relation, and means for actuating said conveyer, of means for feeding a packet of one variety to each succeeding holder of saidconveyer at one part of the said path, means at another part of the path for feeding a packet of another variety to each succeeding holder and in superposed relation to the packet previously entered in said holder, and means for uniting the associated packets contained in said holder.

2. The combination with a conveyer having a succession of holders for dissimilar packets, and means for moving said conveyer in a path having lower and upper levels, of means for feeding a packet of one variety to each succeeding holder of said conveyer at the lower level, means for.

applying adhesive to the under surface of each succeeding packet at the lower level, which surface is inverted as the packet is carried from the lower to the upper level, and means at the upper level for feeding a packet of another variety to each succeeding holder and upon the coated surface of the packet therein.

3. The combination with a conveyer comprising spaced endless chains having a succession of step-like members thereon providing open end holders for dissimilar packets, and means for moving said conveyer in a path having upper and lower trackways, of means for feeding a packet of one variety to each succeeding holder of the conveyer at the lower level, means for applying adhesive to the under surface of each succeeding packet at the lower level, which surface is inverted as the packet is carried from the lower to the upper level, and means at the upper level for feeding a packet of another variety to each succeeding holder and upon the coated surface of the packet therein.

4. The combination with a conveyer comprising spaced endless chains having a succession of open end holders for dissimilar packets, and means for moving said conveyer in a continuous path including upper and lower trackways, of means comprising a peripherally pocketed wheel for the reception of packets of one variety, said wheel mounted to rotate laterally of and in timed relation to the conveyer, and means for transferring each succeeding packet from said wheel into the adjacent holder of the conveyer as it approaches and reaches the lower level, means for applying adhesive to. the under surface of each succeeding packet at the lower level, which surface is inverted as the packet is carried from the lower to the upper level, and means at the upper level for feeding a packet of another variety to each succeeding holder and upon the coated surface of the packet therein.

5. The combination with a conveyer comprising spaced endless chains having a succession of open end holders for dissimilar packets, there being an outward projection between the wallls of adjoining holders, and means for moving said conveyer in a continuous path including upper and lower trackways, of means for feeding a packet of one variety endwise to each succeeding holder of the conveyer at the lower level, means for applying adhesive to the under surface of each succeeding packet at the lower level; which surface is inverted. as the packet is carried from the lower to thenupper'level,- means at the upper level for feeding a packet of another variety to each succeeding holder and upon the coated sur-,

means for moving said conveyer in a continuous path including upper and lower trackways,-of means comprising a peripherally-pocketed wheel for the reception of packets of one variety, said wheel mounted to rotate laterally of and in timed relation to the conveyer, and a fixed inclined cam for transferring each succeeding packet from said wheel into the adjacent holder of the conveyer as the packet approaches and reaches the lower level, means for applying adhesive to the under surface of each succeeding packet at the lower level, which surfacelis inverted as the packet is carried from the lower to the upper level, and means at the upper level for feeding a packet of another variety to each succeeding holder and upon thercoated surface of the packet therein.

. WILLIAM ROBERTS. 

